Building Relationships & Expanding Opportunities...With 4-H Livestock Projects

4-H livestock projects allow numerous learning situations for youth and adults, in addition to providing opportunities for consistent family interaction.  Savvy county agents understand the lifelong lessons that can be gained by youth feeding and exhibiting livestock, but, opportunities exist for the county agent too!  County programs deemed “successful” generally have active youth and adult programs and the two feed off each other.  Agriculture or natural resource agents wanting to develop strong(er) adult programs should initially focus on their youth programs, more specifically, the youth livestock program.

Somebody thinks the Beef Industry is Doing things right!!!

When we hear the words Animal Rights or Animal Welfare our natural tendency is become defensive.  And with good reason.  To often these labels are associated with an attack on programs and lifestyles that we hold dear to our heart.

I will never profess to be an expert in the area of Animal Welfare, but I can learn, and one of the things I have learned from a recent article in "Beef Daily" is that I should have a message in mind regarding the welfare of the livestock I raise.

Turns out the Beef Industry has a solid message if they will embrace it, according to Animal Rights Philosopher Dr.Benard Rollin.

You may not agree with Dr. Rollin's points but I think you will agree his message is thought provoking.

To see and hear what Rollin has to say go to:  http://blog.beefmagazine.com/beef_daily/2009/11/17/animal-ethics-philosopher-speaks-to-sdsu-students-producers/

For what its worth,
Kevin

Are You a Vector? by Jodi Sterle, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Extension Swine Specialist

CEAs have contact with a lot of show animals throughout the year.  Buying trips, validation, project visits and shows are all opportunities to interact with breeders, youth exhibitors, and parents, but are also risky situations for transmitting diseases.  Taking some simple precautionary steps may help you from becoming a vector (a person or object that transmits disease to others) and protect the investment both you and your 4-Hers have made.

• Call ahead.  Whether it is a project visit or a trip to a producer’s farm to purchase pigs, it is important to set up a time for the visit.  Be honest and tell the owner where else you may be going that day.
• Disposable boots are a must.  Keep a box of plastic disposable boots in your truck and slip them on when you get out of your truck at the farm.  Dispose of the boots on site if you can.
• Wash hands thoroughly in between farms.  Soap counts!
• If you have pigs at home, change clothes and shower before you go to your barn.
• If you are doing a project visit and notice sick pigs, call it a day.  After you finish helping that exhibitor with their pigs’ health problem, whether it is a respiratory disease or diarrhea, you need to change clothes and shower before seeing other projects.  A day or two downtime in between visits will also help.  
• If you are not feeling well, do not visit projects.  As we have seen this year with the novel H1N1 virus, several diseases can be passed from humans to pigs.  Take care of yourself and conduct the visit when you are feeling better.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Swine Validation Step by Step

Swine Validation Videos walk you through the process of validating pigs for the major shows.  Ed Schnider, Jodi Sterle and Brandon Callis do an excellent job of walking you through the process in these youtube videos.  These videos are perfect for training your validation committee prior to validation day.

http://agrilife.tamu.edu/livestock101/

If you have suggestions or comments regarding the blog or video resources please leave your feedback.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow in the Pig Show Business. by Dirk Aaron

The swine industry has experienced what is known as pendulum changes over the last 25 years. The shifts of type and kind of show hog it takes to win have been significant and have occurred three times in my 28 year career. The most recent change started occurring in 2001 and is a credit to the swine producers and experts across the United States.